A Logistics Challenge: TNT Took Care of the Belongings of 8500 Runners During We Run Prague

Saturday, August 30th, saw the well known We Run Prague take place, an event which is on the minds of athletes every year. TNT was a partner for the race in 2014 and its employees had a unique logistical challenge, over the course of the race they had to move the belongings of the 8500 participants in the race. TNT vehicles acted as mobile storage for the participants.

“Given the scope of the event we had to not only use vehicles that are normally for Prague deliveries, but part of the fleet from Hradec Králové and Olomouc as well. Our drivers had a long day, but they are professionals so it all went off without a hitch,” said Tomáš Karásek, PUD & Linehaul Manager for TNT. The major task for TNT was to collect all of the runner’s belongings and make sure that everything was at the finish line where the participants would be able to pick them up. TNT used 50 vehicles as well as the same number of couriers for the task. While participants faced a ten kilometre route, the cars have a shorter path. From Žluté lázně, where the race started, they went about two kilometres to the finish line at Náplavka. “As soon as the last participant left the starting gate we had to organize the disassembly of the gate, otherwise the vehicles wouldn’t be able to make it through. In addition, parking on Náplavka was no simple task, everything had to be calculated to the exact centimetre,” added Tomáš Karásek.

No Threat of Confusion

Every participant received a package which contained not only a chip, but a shirt with their starting number. All cars were marked with the numbers 1 - 50 and each had a number range for the competitors so that competitors could easily find which vehicle was “theirs”. Each backpack or bag had the number of the participant attached to it which the runner then collected at the finish line by showing the number on their starting bib, or by using the chip. This guaranteed that only the rightful owner was able to pick up their belongings. “Some participants finished around eight o’clock but our vehicles were very well illuminated meaning that runners could find their things even after sunset. The last TNT vehicle left Náplavka after ten o’clock,” concluded Tomáš Karásek.

Sports Events are Fun

“TNT likes supporting active people and this isn’t the first time that we’ve been a partner for a sports event. This time it was a huge running event, where we had to arrange the transportation, while in the past we have participated in campaigns like Ride Your Bike to Work (Do práce na kole), where our employees were also engaged. We plan on participating in similar events in the future,” promises Miloš Malaník, the General Manager for TNT Czech Republic. He personally ran the We Run Prague on Saturday and finished in just under 53 minutes.

About TNTExpress:

TNT Express is one of the world's largest express delivery companies, transporting around one million items daily, from documents and packages to freight items. The company has road and air networks in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia and the Americas. In 2013, TNT Express reported revenues of 6.7 billion Euros.